open 💀 third recording

[stillarhino]

Sender: Beat
To: Everyone
Subject: a question

yo who heres single?
asking for a friend

[That's it. That's the post.]

[ooc: Both Beat and Trahearne will be replying to this!]

Comments

[lightresearch]

I think I understand what you're aiming for, that's correct.

I think that a more nuanced approach driven by data about your friend and their potential interests would yield better results, however. I believe that's how many programs designed around finding romantic matches operate.

1/5

[stillarhino]

[stillarhino]

[stillarhino]

[stillarhino]

[stillarhino]

whatchu just say?

[lightresearch]

I'm sorry! I can see how that could be confusing.

That was a complicated way of saying ... if you know generally what your friend is looking for, and things about your friend -

- it would be more helpful to find out who would 'match' what your friend is looking for.

Instead of casting a wide net, drawing in people who might not fit them.

I hope that makes more sense!

[stillarhino]

thats what you was trying to say?
just go with that next time yo

yeah i messed up on that part
hes pretty chill so wes looking for someone whos cool with that
he knows a lotta stuff too so someone whos into that sorta thing is probably gonna be good too

[lightresearch]

I apologize again, I'll be more mindful next time.

That still seems rather ... broad? Most people are at least curious to discover new things, even if more technical knowledge evades them.

[stillarhino]

you good yo no sweat

aight i think hes into all sorts a books too
like i dunno what hes reading but he got a lotta them where he works

[lightresearch]

... I think many people enjoy reading, whether it is for work or pleasure.

Perhaps I'm not being specific enough with my prompts to help you gather the appropriate data.

[stillarhino]

[...]

yo
you think you wanna go on date with him?

[lightresearch]

I'm sorry, I believe you had intended to send that last message to a different party.

[stillarhino]

nah nah im asking you
its like you really wanna know more about him

[lightresearch]

I'm sorry for the confusion! I don't even know of whom you're speaking of, so - without any offense meant - I can't say I have interest?

I am used to providing support to others in an attempt to solve problems, that is all.

[stillarhino]

going on a date with hims gonna help solve a problem
or at least give him more experience

[lightresearch]

I suppose you would be correct! Experience is not easily learned from books.

Granted, acknowledging that, we should find him a suitable candidate who has such experience.

[stillarhino]

think i should just have a do-over with all of the then?

[pactmarshal]

Beat's heart is in the right place, but I'm afraid he lacks the vocabulary to elaborate.

I'm the curator of the archives, which means I spend much of my time reviewing submissions. In the waking world, I was a scholar specializing in the undead and magical corruption. My whole life has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. It goes a bit beyond "liking reading."

[ You reading this, Beat?? ]

I see you are trying to get a better understanding, so I thought I might provide specifics. [ He sees Ienzo's not interested and it's fine, honestly. IT'S MORE THAN "LIKING BOOKS," BEAT. ]

[lightresearch]

That's quite fascinating! In the system of magic that your world is familiar with, are the 'undead' a subset of 'magical corruption' - or are these two different categories that you had studied?

I appreciate that, thank you. I admit that I am a researcher myself, and I am spoiled by this dream in that I get to learn so much about so many other worlds I've never encountered before.

[pactmarshal]

Isn't it fascinating? The simple act of speaking with another brings to mind possibilities beyond the constraints of what I was familiar with at home. Compiling raw data to see how one's experiences interacts with Songerein's native environment has been so fulfilling. If this sort of thing interests you, I suggest you stop by the archives sometime. Even if I'm not there, my staff is dedicated and knowledgeable and would be more than willing to help you.

And to answer your question, yes and no. My field of expertise was specifically corruption wrought by a dragon whose magical domain was of death, and one particular effect of its corruption was raising the dead as mindless minions under its control. I came across other types of undead in my research, but I did not read too much into it as it I was most interested in draconic corruption, specifically.

[lightresearch]

I would like that very much, thank you kindly for your invitation. I hope I won't end up wearing out my welcome. I've been told that once I've gotten my hands on a trove of new material, I can become entirely absorbed by it. Honestly, I'm looking forward to it.

Interesting. So a dragon within this context is a being of magic? Rather than another species of fauna particular to your world, that is to say. Was the corruption something that twisted its nature, causing it to act on its own - or was the corruption an effort to control it, raising its army on the whim of another?

[pactmarshal]

No such thing. We get daily visitors, and the building is open at all hours to accommodate those with odd schedules. We'd be happy to have you.

[ Moving on-- SORRY IMMEDIATELY FOR THE LORE DUMP. ]

In a sense, yes. The Elder Dragons are primordial beings - while they have physical forms, and can be seen, touched, and fought, they are a part of nature itself, and have existed as a key part to my world's magic cycle for millennia. The energy they exude spreads beyond its conscious control and corrupts almost all that come into contact with it. Those turned by these energies are then directed by the dragon's latent instincts, often to destroy and consume all not already in the dragon's grasp.

That said, given the potency of draconic corruption, studying it is hazardous, and often fatal, even with advances in modern technology. The awakening of the dragons is an omen of worldwide destruction - my purpose was to undo the undead dragon's corruption and cleanse the land that had fallen to it. That was my part in our fight against the dragons.

I apologize for such a long-winded answer. I hope it's to your satisfaction.

[lightresearch]

Please, don't apologize!

[ Ienzo was smiling so hard at his journal that his face hurt a little. ]

That's fascinating. Please, anything you're willing to share, I'm happy to learn. Though perhaps we should talk in person about it sometime.

So, in a way, these dragons are avatars for the fundamental forces within your world. Being such intense fonts of power, they would naturally affect the land and creatures around them. Become extensions of them.

No wonder studying them must be dangerous.

Have you learned what had caused the corruption to begin with? I would think that knowing how it all began might give you a clue as to how to prevent such corruption from occurring again.

[pactmarshal]

As the undead dragon awakened, it began to exert its influence on the land around it. The former human kingdom it had made its home had been so thoroughly tainted that the illness had essentially become a part of the land's lifeblood itself.

Luckily, however, any illness can be countered with the proper medicine, and I am pleased to inform you that I was successful in my plight. The corruption was undone, and the dragon was slain. No longer will its reach spread, and what remains of its influence will slowly be whittled away.

[ If only he could see all that for himself. ]

It was a decades-long process, one that took my entire life. But I am more than happy to discuss details with you in person - I doubt there would be any room left in my notebook if I were to start writing down all the nitty-gritty.

[ That's a joke, because the notebook is technically infinite. ]